'Sacked' East Kilbride Thistle gaffer left because ex-boss Hamilton is being sneaked back into the club

Gary Hamilton, left, with Jags director Peter Kelsall, right, when he joined the Jags in May. Stevie McPhillips is in the back row, second from right (Image: East Kilbride News)

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Stevie McPhillips has claimed he wasn't sacked by East Kilbride Thistle and decided to leave after discovering ex-boss Gary Hamilton is being sneaked back to the club as director of football.

McPhillips took the reins at Thistle in December after Hamilton walked out on the club, sending his resignation via WhatsApp while he was on holiday in Lanzarote.

But now McPhillips has claimed Hamilton is set for a shock return to the club.

He has insisted that is part of the reason for his departure, as well as being asked by Jags chairman, Brian McMullan, to play certain players.

Thistle director Peter Kelsall stated earlier today that "a unanimous decision" was taken by the club to change the manager.

But McPhillips told the East Kilbride News: "I had a chat with the chairman to see if there was finances available to get the boys some petrol money for this weekend because we are playing the Kello game at Cumnock.

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"It ended amicably. It was a conversation between two grown men, with no animosity."

Stevie McPhillips

Thistle have brought in former Cambuslang Rangers and Gartcairn assistant boss Gary Johnstone to take the team for Saturday's West Region League One trip to Kello. The game is due to be played at Cumnock Juniors' Townhead Park, which has an artificial surface.

The Jags are second from bottom in the table and in a relegation dogfight with Kello, Royal Albert and Wishaw.

McPhillips added: "There's no funds coming into the club, so it's very hard to get players in.